Recent reports: Climate is reshaping the wine industry

The global wine industry is facing a dramatic transformation as climate change brings both devastating challenges and unexpected opportunities.

Wine producers in Catalonia, Spain, are facing increasing challenges due to climate change, with severe droughts reducing vineyard yields, driving up grape prices, and threatening the region’s long-standing winemaking traditions. This photo captures Vinyes de Tardor in Santa Maria de Foix, Alt Penedès, a renowned wine-producing region in Catalonia, one of the areas struggling with these harsh conditions. Photo: Angela Llop, Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0

From Spain to Australia, vineyards are struggling with extreme droughts, unpredictable weather, and shifting growing conditions that are forcing winemakers to rethink centuries-old practices. While some traditional wine regions are suffering, others—like northern Europe—are experiencing a surprising boom.

Spain’s vineyards under pressure

Spain, one of the world’s largest wine producers, is struggling with severe droughts, particularly in Catalonia. A recent report, Drought and Water Management: Spanish Vineyards Under Pressure (The Drinks Business, February 2025), details how the lack of rainfall has caused significant yield reductions and rising grape prices. Diego Pinilla, chief oenologist at Raventós Codorníu, emphasizes that better irrigation infrastructure is urgently needed:

Vineyards with irrigation, like those in Raimat, have managed to maintain their production, but areas like Penedès are suffering significant losses. Diego Pinilla Chief oenologist at Raventós Codo

France’s Chablis region hit by extreme eather

It’s not just droughts that are affecting vineyards—other extreme weather events, including hail, frost, and excessive rainfall, are causing havoc. Climate Change and Harsh Weather in France Bring Challenges to Chablis Wine Country (Associated Press) highlights how winemakers in Chablis are dealing with the consequences. Winemaker David Lavantureux reports that his vineyard has lost 60-65% of its crop due to unpredictable weather.

Australia and the U.S. Struggling with drought

In South Australia, farmers are experiencing the worst drought in nearly two decades, leading to water shortages and reduced vineyard yields. Meanwhile, in the U.S., extreme weather is also taking a toll on wine production. Ryan Levy, winemaker at Nice Wines in Texas, told Triple Pundit:

We’re really well attuned to all of those changes because of how they can affect every aspect of winemaking. Ryan Levy Winemaker at Nice Wines in Texas

Northern Europe’s surprising wine boom

Dyrehøj Vingaard, Denmark's largest winery, was established in 2008 on the Røsnæs peninsula. The vineyard has expanded from its initial 4,000 vines to approximately 23,000, covering around 7 hectares (20 acres). The vineyard's growth aligns with broader trends in viticulture, where climate change has opened new regions to grape cultivation. Warmer temperatures have made areas like Denmark more suitable for vineyards, allowing Dyrehøj Vingaard to thrive in a cooler climate. Photo: facebook.com/dyrehojvingaard

While traditional wine regions are suffering, northern Europe is seeing an unexpected benefit from climate change.

How Climate Change is Redrawing Europe’s Wine Map (Financial Times) reports that countries like Denmark are now producing high-quality wines, something that was nearly impossible just a few decades ago. Warmer temperatures have made grape cultivation viable in areas previously considered too cold.

Adapting to climate change: The Champagne example

French winemakers are taking proactive steps to combat climate change. Why Champagne’s Formula is Changing for the First Time in 90 Years (The Times) reports that winemakers are now incorporating the voltis grape, a hybrid resistant to fungal diseases that thrive in increasingly warm and humid conditions. This marks a major shift in the traditional champagne-making process.